I came across a tree with a few little "helicopter" type seeds on it, at about 8000 ft. The tree itself is almost white and no leaves were on it when I was there in April. Is this a maple? Anyone know what kind of tree it is?

Description: Mountain Maple is a deciduous shrub or small tree that may reach a height of twenty feet, but is usually somewhat shorter. Leaves are composed of three leaflets with stems that are often bright red. Flowers are tiny and green. The fruit is a pair of winged achenes.
Habitat: Mountain Maple grows at elevations between 6500 and 10400 feet. It is likely to be found growning near water sources. Otherwise, it is found throughout the southwest.

Flowering Season: Flowers form during April and May.

Comments: There are three varieties of Mountain Maple that are present in California (diffusum, greenei, and torreyi). The one that is found in the Death Valley area is A. glabrum var. diffusum.

Well strike me down as incorrect! Sure is a far cry from the maples I'm used to seeing here in the wet northwest, but that mountain maple looks like a good match, and the Panamints are listed as within the occurring range of the plant.

In the same vein (could make a pun there with the maple leaves), did you see and bristlecone pines on Telescope? I don't recall if there are any up there. Definitely some nice ones on the ridge to the south, beyond the end of the trail.

I have a garage full for maple logs from trees downed in our spring New England storms. I'll have to split them in the fall, but they will keep us nice and warm this winter!

I just noticed yesterday in my pics that a number of these Rocky Mountain Maples can be seen from the crest near "the red spot":

Brian, I was not sure about the exact location of your maples so I blew up your photo and to my delight discovered a whole grove of maples in your image. Maybe some of these light spots are rock outcroppings but I think most are your maples. How many of these are maples?